By: Georgy Goodwin

 

Natasha Herbert, 26, is building her own business and will graduate from the University of Oregon this spring. She has been accepted to graduate school to pursue a Master’s degree in social work. She has found purpose in her career goals, a creative outlet with her bath products business and is very content with her life. At a glance, you would probably never know Herbert nearly died from drug abuse.

Herbert’s addictions culminated in a heart-valve infection four years ago. Her parents and little brother came to the hospital every day, though they had been estranged. Regardless, Herbert had friends bring her drugs in the hospital and she would sneak out and get high.

Once she was released to a nursing home, she experienced a pain in her chest that she described as “being torn in two.” She was immediately rushed to the hospital, but after many tests it was determined that she was, more or less, healthy. The pain she felt was withdrawal. After that experience, the pain outweighed her desire to get clean; Herbert was still not prepared to give up drugs.

Around Christmas, Herbert’s favorite time of year, her parents came to visit her in the hospital.  In the visitor’s room she told her parents that she would not give up using; her fear of withdrawal outweighed the fear of losing her family. They said it would have to be “goodbye until she decided to be sober.”

When Herbert returned to her room, she was taken aback. Her 10 year old brother had gone to the store, bought Christmas decorations for Natasha’s room, and strung lights on her bed to cheer her up. She cried.

Herbert knew her brother did not understand what was going on. “In that moment, I did not want to lose my little brother’s unconditional love for me even though I was a junkie living out of my car,” she said. She knew she needed the love and support of her family to beat her addiction.

Once clean, Herbert returned to school, where she found support. Beth O’Halloran, her academic coach, said, “When I first met Natasha, she was only four months sober. Now she has four years. As her academic coach, I watched Natasha overcome demons to become a successful student. Her goals give her purpose and now she has dreams bigger than she ever imagined.”
Herbert wants to work with troubled youth, especially those struggling with addiction, once she finishes her graduate degree.  In the meantime, she continues to make bath products — channeling her sobriety through her creativity. Giving back and having a creative outlet gives Herbert satisfaction in life and helps her to stay sober.

 

Photo: Courtesy of Natasha Herbert